Perhaps
The people of Guangdong arethe most resilient and
also the ones who loveto ‘ask for trouble’ the most
Especially in the old days when cola, Sprite, and trendy milk tea
were not yet popular
On hot days, drinking a cup of herbal tea to ‘eliminate dampness and heat’
was just like ‘going home to drink a bowl of soup or cooking a bowl of noodles for a late-night snack’
It is aclassic part of Cantonese life
However
A cup ofdark and bitter herbal tea
is suitable for everyone, regardless of age or gender to gulp down?
Well, at least a long time ago
there was some reason behind it
This has to do with thegeographical and cultural history of Guangdong
Classroom of Ji Zai Jun
In Guangdong’s summer, the air is humid and theheat and dampness are indeed quite heavy. Moreover, in the past, the labor force was mainly composed ofphysical laborers, whose bodies became strong through long-term work.With external dampness and heat plus an internally strong constitution— this group of people easily feels‘damp heat’.
Drinking herbal tea too much
Ji Zai Jun is here to offer you a change of taste
If you want toeliminate dampness and heat
there is another good soup ingredient thattonifies Qi and eliminates dampness
That is—Wuzhi Maotao (Five-finger Peach)
Let’s take a look!
Wuzhi Maotao (Five-finger Peach)
Wuzhi Maotao, originally named Wuzhua Long, is known as‘Guangdong Ginseng’ because its leaves resemble five fingers, and its fruit looks like a fuzzy peach when ripe. Wuzhi Maotao is used medicinally for its roots, which cantonify Qi, strengthen the spleen, eliminate phlegm, and dispel dampness. In traditional Chinese medicine, Wuzhi Maotao is also calledNan Qi (Southern Astragalus), which refers tothe southern‘Huang Qi (Astragalus)’.
This indicates that it has the sametonifying Qi and strengthening the spleen effects as Huang Qi, but without the warming properties of Huang Qi, making it very suitable for use in the southern climate. The people of Guangdong love to use it to cook soups withpork bones and chicken, taking advantage of itsability to dispel heat and dampness.
Effects of Wuzhi Maotao
The people of Guangdong love to useWuzhi Maotao roots to make soup
This practice can be traced back a long time
Chicken + Wuzhi Maotao roots
Pork bones + Wuzhi Maotao roots
Pork + Wuzhi Maotao roots…
Any combination
will yield a pot ofdelicious soup that dispels heat and dampness
“
According to the “Chinese Herbal Cuisine Studies”, ‘In summer, the weather is hot, and the human body prefers coolness. The five organs belong to the heart, which is suitable for clear tonification; in late summer, the five organs belong to the spleen, which is suitable for light tonification.’
”
It can be seen that
summer conditioning should belight and clear, tonifying the heart and spleen
which is just right for use in soups at this time
Wuzhi Maotao has a sweet taste, is neutral in nature, and enters the spleen, lung, and liver meridians, possessingtonifying Qi, strengthening the spleen, eliminating phlegm, and dispelling dampness effects, and is indicated forlung deficiency with phlegm cough, spleen and stomach Qi deficiency, fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal distension, edema, rheumatic pain, and lower back and leg pain.
“
According to the “Lingnan Herbal Record”: ‘Wuzhua Long, also known as Wulong Gen, Huolong Ye, is a woody plant with five-parted leaves that are hairy and have a clear fragrance.’
”
Identification of Wuzhi Maotao
The roots are slightlycylindrical, branched, varying in length, with a diameter of 0.2 to 2.5 cm, the surface isgray-brown or brown, withlongitudinal wrinkles, and visible transverse pores and root hairs.
Some cork layers fall off, revealing a yellowish skin. The texture is hard and difficult to break, with a断面呈纤维性. The slices are usually 1 to 1.5 cm thick, with a thin skin,the wood part is yellowish-white, with numerous concentric rings, and visibleradial patterns, the skin and wood parts are easily separable.It has a faint fragrance and a sweet taste.
When purchasing Wuzhi Maotao,
first, check the color, generally, abrownish-yellow is preferred;
second, choose the texture, coarser black roots have fewer effective components, while those with finer roots are better;
third, smell the aroma, it should not have a sulfur smell, good Wuzhi Maotao has a faintcoconut aroma.
Wuzhi Maotao Soup Recipes
Wuzhi Maotao Chicken Soup
Ingredients:Half a mature chicken, 60 grams of Wuzhi Maotao roots, 200 grams of lean meat, 2 honey dates, 10 grams of goji berries, 1 teaspoon of salt, 2.5 liters of water
Method:
①Remove the internal organs from the mature chicken, wash it thoroughly inside and out, and cut it into large pieces. Wash the lean meat and cut it into large pieces as well.
②In a pot, pour in clean water, heat it to a boil, first blanch the lean meat, skim off the foam, and continue to boil for 3 minutes before removing. Then blanch the chicken pieces for 3 minutes, remove them, and rinse off the surface foam with clean water.
③Rinse the Wuzhi Maotao, soak it in clean water for 10 minutes, and then wash off any impurities on the surface.
④Put the blanched chicken pieces and lean meat into the pot, add enough clean water, bring to a boil, then add the honey dates, goji berries, and Wuzhi Maotao, cover the pot, and simmer on low heat for 2 hours. Add salt to taste before serving.
Effects:Strengthens the spleen and stomach, dispels dampness, and relaxes the muscles and tendons
Indications:Avoid for those with heat syndrome and other wind-heat colds.
Wuzhi Maotao Pork Bone Soup
Ingredients:150 grams of pork bones, 5 grams of Wuzhi Maotao, 1 honey date, half a teaspoon of salt, 2 slices of ginger, appropriate amount of water
Method:
①After boiling water in a pot, blanch the pork bones to remove blood foam, wash the Wuzhi Maotao and honey date, soak them in cold water for 10 minutes, and drain.
②Put the cleaned pork bones into a clay pot, then add the Wuzhi Maotao, honey date, and ginger into the pot, and add an appropriate amount of clean water.
③In a steamer, add water and a rack, then place the clay pot on the rack, cover it, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat for two hours, adding salt to taste when the soup is ready.
Effects:Clears heat and dispels dampness, clears the liver and moistens the lungs.
Indications:This soup is suitable for those with Yang deficiency and Qi deficiency.
Wuzhi Maotao, Tu Fu Ling, and Lotus Seed Soup
Ingredients:100 grams of Wuzhi Maotao, 200 grams of Tu Fu Ling, 30 grams of lotus seeds (with hearts removed), 500 grams of pig stomach, ginger, and salt to taste
Method:
①Wash the Wuzhi Maotao, Tu Fu Ling, and lotus seeds, remove the hearts from the lotus seeds, and soak them slightly;
②Clean the pig stomach, cut it into strips, and blanch it;
③Boil clean water, add all ingredients, boil over high heat for 20 minutes, then simmer on low heat for an hour and a half, adding salt to taste before drinking.
Effects:This medicinal dish has effects of clearing heat and dispelling dampness, tonifying Qi and strengthening the spleen, nourishing the heart and benefiting the kidneys, clearing the liver and moistening the lungs, and detoxifying. It is suitable for symptoms of dampness obstructing the spleen, spleen Qi deficiency, spleen deficiency diarrhea, fatigue, edema, and damp-heat discharge. This medicinal dish is sweet and neutral in nature, suitable for all ages, but should be avoided by those with abdominal distension and constipation.
Health Expansion:
1. The great heat has arrived! Different constitutions should do this to feel comfortable throughout the entire summer. 2. Be sure to drink more of this in summer to prevent disease and promote blood circulation; women will become younger the more they drink! 3. Add 5 types of ‘ingredients’ to plain water, not only hydrating but also beautifying! 4. July is the best time to dispel dampness: drink a bit of it every day, and in half a month, all dampness and toxins will be gone.
Ji Zai Jun has something to say
Did you get today’s soup for dispelling dampness and heat?
If you know more secrets for dispelling dampness and heat
remember to share with us in the comments!
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